NRSC reserves ad time in three states

National Republicans have reserved advertising time in the final week of the campaign in a trio of Senate races that were once viewed as unlikely pickup targets.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has set aside $1.75 million in air time in the Los Angeles media market, plus about $470,000 in Wisconsin and $515,000 in Washington.

Story Continued Below

NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said the investment in California is a sign of the party’s commitment to GOP nominee Carly Fiorina in her bid against Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.

“This move, along with our efforts in Washington, Wisconsin and elsewhere, reflects the fact that momentum is on the Republican side even in historically blue states, and we believe voters want to restore checks and balances in Washington,” said Walsh.

Since the NRSC can change or withdraw its ad buys, the move now to reserve time suggests the GOP wants to send a message about its prospects in California, where public polls show an increasingly competitive race, and in the contests pitting Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold against Oshkosh, Wis., plastics manufacturer Ron Johnson, and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) against two-time gubernatorial nominee Dino Rossi.

“They’re sending a signal to the donors there and they’re serious about playing in those states,” said Jason Roe, a California-based Republican consultant.

The NRSC’s pledge to run ads in the California Senate race is especially good news for Fiorina’s campaign, which ended June with just $953,000 in the bank — a pittance in a state the size of California. Although Fiorina, a former Hewlett-Packard CEO, loaned some of her personal fortune to her primary campaign, she has not indicated whether she would give more money to her general election.